Impoversihed during Soviet rule, Turkmenistans economy driven
by huge natural gas reserves has adjusted well to independence. The country
however has not been so fortunate in other areas. Currently led by the egomaniac
of a president Saparmurad Niyazov under whom, political parties, independents
media, academic meetings, the teaching of foreign languages, foreign education,
the internet, Christian and Hindu sect leaders, are all banned. The president
has been asked by his puppet parliament to stay on for life but he has turned
down this offer opting to step down in 2010. The regime is described by Amnesty
International as secretive, repressive and intimidating. While the
economic potential is huge, this potential cannot be fulfilled until a stable
government comes to power.

Turkmens
· Originated in the Altai region of eastern Central Asia
· Built reputation as formidable raiders and warriors attacking caravans
on silk route
· Fought as mercenaries for Persian, Turkic, Afghan an Central Asian
rulers
· Made up of 20 different tribes

Leader
· President Saparmurad Niyazov
· Brought up in communist orphanage
· Leads most represseive and dictatorial regime in the world
· Has been asked to stay on as president for life by his puppet parliament
· Announced that he will step down in 2010
· Has made his own code of conduct which he compares to the Quran and
the bible

Resources
· Proven oil reserves of 546 million barrels
· 260 trillion cubic feet of gas making it the fifth largest gas reserves
in the world
· three quarters of the country is covered by the Kara-Kum Desert which
is irrigated from the Amu Darya River to grow cotton, 10th largest producer
in the world.

Economy
· Below poverty line 58%
· suffered from the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural
gas and from obligations on extensive short-term external debt.
· Prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread
internal poverty and the burden of foreign debt.
· IMF assistance would seem to be necessary, yet the government is not
as yet ready to accept IMF requirements.